100 Best Nursing schools in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Nursing. A graph of 59.1M citations received by 1.6M academic papers made by 1,004 universities in the United States was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nursing

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Nursing

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

3. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Nursing

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

4. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Nursing

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

5. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Nursing

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nursing

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

7. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Nursing

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Nursing

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

9. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Nursing

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Nursing

#11 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

11. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Nursing

#12 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

12. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Nursing

#13 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

13. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Nursing

#15 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

14. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nursing

#17 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

15. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Nursing

#19 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

16. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Nursing

#20 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Nursing

#21 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Nursing

#22 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

19. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Nursing

#24 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

20. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Nursing

#25 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

21. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Nursing

#28 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

22. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nursing

#29 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

23. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Nursing

#30 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

24. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Nursing

#31 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

25. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Nursing

#32 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

26. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Nursing

#33 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

27. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Nursing

#34 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

28. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Nursing

#35 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

29. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Nursing

#36 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Nursing

#37 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

31. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Nursing

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Nursing

#39 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

33. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Nursing

#40 in North America

#54 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

34. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Nursing

#41 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

35. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Nursing

#42 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

36. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Nursing

#43 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

37. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Nursing

#44 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

38. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Nursing

#45 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

39. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Nursing

#46 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

40. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Nursing

#47 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

41. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Nursing

#49 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

42. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Nursing

#50 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

43. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Nursing

#51 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

44. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Nursing

#52 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

45. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Nursing

#53 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

46. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Nursing

#54 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

47. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Nursing

#55 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

48. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Nursing

#56 in North America

#82 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

49. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Nursing

#57 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

50. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Nursing

#58 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

51. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Nursing

#59 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

52. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Nursing

#60 in North America

#89 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Nursing

#61 in North America

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

54. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Nursing

#62 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

55. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Nursing

#63 in North America

#98 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

56. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Nursing

#66 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

57. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Nursing

#67 in North America

#108 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

58. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Nursing

#68 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Nursing

#69 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

60. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Nursing

#70 in North America

#111 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

61. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Nursing

#72 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

62. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Nursing

#73 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

63. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Nursing

#74 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

64. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Nursing

#75 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

65. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Nursing

#76 in North America

#123 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

66. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Nursing

#77 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

67. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Nursing

#78 in North America

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

68. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Nursing

#79 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

69. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Nursing

#80 in North America

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

70. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Nursing

#82 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

71. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Nursing

#83 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

72. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Nursing

#84 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

73. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Nursing

#85 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

74. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Nursing

#86 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

75. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Nursing

#88 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

76. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Nursing

#89 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

77. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nursing

#90 in North America

#159 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

78. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nursing

#91 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

79. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Nursing

#92 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

80. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Nursing

#93 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

81. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Nursing

#94 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

82. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Nursing

#95 in North America

#182 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

83. Tulane University of Louisiana

Louisiana | New Orleans

For Nursing

#96 in North America

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $47,427

84. Saint Louis University

Missouri | St. Louis

For Nursing

#97 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,749

85. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Nursing

#98 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

86. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Arkansas | Little Rock

For Nursing

#99 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Enrollment: 3,485
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1879

87. San Diego State University

California | San Diego

For Nursing

#101 in North America

#196 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Receiving Aid: 62%
Average Aid: $12,053
Enrollment: 41,137

88. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Nursing

#102 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

89. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Nursing

#103 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

90. Brigham Young University - Provo

Utah | Provo

For Nursing

#104 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $16,694

91. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Nursing

#105 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

92. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Nursing

#106 in North America

#210 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

93. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Nursing

#107 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

94. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Nursing

#108 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

95. University of Alabama

Alabama | Tuscaloosa

For Nursing

#109 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 88%

96. Florida College

Florida | Temple Terrace

For Nursing

#110 in North America

#218 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $24,335

97. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Nursing

#111 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. University of Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska | Omaha

For Nursing

#112 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Enrollment: 3,988
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1869

99. Marymount University

Virginia | Arlington

For Nursing

#114 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $31,989
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $26,069

100. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Nursing

#115 in North America

#227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

The best cities to study Nursing in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Baltimore, Seattle, and Ann Arbor.